Step away from the drugstore aisle of anti-aging beauty products and nutritional supplements. Now, open wide, and eat your way to optimal health and youthful good looks.

Get glowy again with broccoli — really

Get glowy again with broccoli — really

When sleepless nights leave you feeling — or looking — a little blah, reach for this crunchy green. A half-cup serving contains more than two-thirds of your recommended intake of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the immune system. It's also high in sulforaphane, which promotes liver detoxification. "Over 80 percent of toxins are neutralized through the liver, and a buildup of toxins in our bodies can cause dull and dry skin, hair and nails," says beauty nutritionist Paula Simpson.

Sip cocoa for your heart

Sip cocoa for your heart

Another reason to enjoy this tasty treat: It helps to maintain healthy blood vessels, which support healthy circulation and a healthy heart. Opt for antioxidant-rich cocoa beans, which contain twice the amount dark chocolate does without much the added pro-aging fat and sugar, says Cheryl Forberg, RD, and author of Positively Ageless: A 28-Day Plan for a Younger, Slimmer, Sexier You. Choose "natural" cocoa powder — when processed, added alkali reduces its antioxidant numbers.